Hugo borchardt



No. 613,057. Patented Oct. 25, I898.

H. BORCHABDT.

AUTOMATIC LIGHTING DEVICE FOR GAS BUR NERS.

. (Applicati d Feb. 1. 1898.)

oooooooo NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGO BORCHARDT, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

AUTOMATIC LIGHTING DEVICE FOR GAS-BURNERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,057, dated October25, 1898.

Application filed February 1, 1898. Serial No. 668,704. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGO BORCHARDT, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire ofGermany, have invented a new and useful Automatic Lighting Device forGas-Burners,of which the following is a specification.

There have already been devised applian ces for the automatic lightingof gas in which a platinum sponge wasarranged at a predetermined heightabove the burnerorifice,whence thin and sometimes curled or coiledplatinum wires were stretched down to a point in the vicinity of thesaid orifice. The action of these automaticlighting devices was basedupon the fact that the platinum sponge in consequence of its contactwith the illuminating-gas, which as it issued became mixed with air, washeated to incandescence and that the platinum wires attached to thesponge by reason of the well-known physical properties of platinumtransmitted the heat to the burner-orifice. The rapidity andreliableness of ignition in those arrangements have, however, beenmainly dependent upon a condition which was not sufficiently taken intoaccountnamely, upon the method of arrangement of the platinum wires.

Now I have ascertained that the following two conditions have to befulfilled in order to insure the prompt and reliable operation of theplatinum wires referred to. First, the wires must not extend down to theburner in the form of one single strand, as heretofore, whetherspreading or expanding or not in the downward direction. What theyshould do, on the-contrary, is to constitute a system expanding orspreading upwardly in the shape of a fan, their divergence as nearly aspracticable corresponding to the cone of dispersion of the issuinggas,and,secondly, the wires should not, as in the method heretoforeadopted, form a frizzled curl, which is very apt to undergo alterationsin its position either under the action of a draft of air or under otherinfluences, but they should be stretched or strained taut withadjustable tension, so that they may permanently retain the positionimparted to them. 7 V

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 are respectively aside elevation, a

rear view, and a front view, of one form of automatic gas-lightingdevice combining the novel features above described. Fig. 4 is across-sectionthrough the platinum sponge, drawn to a larger scale andshowing a portion of one of the wires.

a designates the platinum sponge, which is retained between resilientclamps 61, mounted in an extension or projection of the burner. Theplatinum sponge or is preferably formed into an oblong block, which isrhomboidal in cross-section. Between the said clamps there is interposeda carrier 0, automatically retained in place by friction and adjustablein height, and to this carrier is secured the system of platinum Wires1), expanding upwardly in fan shape andstretched or strained over thesponge a. I

e designates the burner-orifice.

The arrangement above described affords the following advantages:Inasmuch as the platinum wires 19, which are arranged at approximatelyequal distances apart, expand or spread in front of the'whole effectivesurface of the platinum sponge a, all the heat evolved from the spongeis utilized in heating the platinum wires, and the incandescent heat istransferred to the burner-orifice by the shortest way, and this actionis all the more reliable as all the platinum wires are situated withinthe gas-cone. Again, owing to the attachment of the platinum wires b tothe carrier 0, the height or level of which may be adjusted by simpledisplacement, the possibility is afforded of imparting greater or lesstension to the wires, as may be required, in securing them in place.

In some cases, indeed, the platinum sponges may be provided with smallnotches or dents for the wires to be embedded in, so that they areeifectually precluded from shifting.

As the platinum sponge a is retained be tween the clamps d by frictionmerely, it may, if desired, be adjusted or displaced by shifting it sothat its front surface is moved more or less into the gas-cone, sincethe wires 1), being very thin, will follow the outline or position ofthe sponge in any situation.

The drawings show a conical flame issuing from a round hole; but burnersor tips having holes or slots for producing flat flames may be used. Thesponge and wires are ICC) placed in any position, so that they are inthe current of gas which issues from the burner.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with a gas-burner, of an ignitingsponge supported above the burner, and a series of upwardly andoutwardly diverging igniting-wires arranged between the said sponge andburner, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a gas-burner, of an igniting sponge supportedabove the burner, and a series of igniting-wires secured under tensionand arranged between the said sponge and burner, substantially as setforth.

3. The combination, with a gas-burner, of an igniting sponge supportedabove the burner, a series of igniting-wires arranged witnesses.

HUGO BOROI-IARDT. Witnesses:

PAUL AULIoH, CHAS. H. DAY.

